Lena Malnes

• Malnes, Lena; Haugen, Tommy; Nordbø, Emma Charlott Andersson; Ivarsson, Andreas; Kolle, Elin & Resaland, Geir Kåre [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2025). Objectively measured environmental factors in relation to school travel mode among adolescents: a decision tree analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 22. doi: 10.1186/s12966-025-01727-6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Understanding the factors that influence school travel mode choice is essential for promoting active travel among adolescents. Currently, there is a lack of research that effectively investigates the interactions between demographic and environmental factors on travel behavior. We aimed to investigate the associations between various demographic and environmental characteristics and the choice of school travel modes—walking, cycling, or motorized transport—among adolescents, across the winter and summer seasons. Methods Data from 1409 Norwegian adolescents, aged 14–15 years, who participated in the School In Motion project were analyzed. Self-reported travel modes and demographic characteristics were collected via questionnaires, while environmental characteristics were determined using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A decision tree analysis was conducted utilizing the chi-squared automatic interaction detection algorithm to discern patterns in the data. The present study has a cross-sectional design. Results During summer, the predominant travel modes were cycling (39%), walking (37%), and motorized transport (24%). Gender was associated with travel mode choices over short distances (< 1.6 km), with girls favoring walking and boys favoring cycling. For longer commutes, steep inclines were associated with reduced walking and cycling, while higher traffic exposure was associated with increased cycling. During winter, walking (50%) was the most common mode, followed by motorized travel (36%) and cycling (14%). Living near peers was associated with increased walking and cycling among girls. For commutes exceeding 2 km, factors such as available bus transit, more streetlights, the absence of steep hills, and higher urban centrality were linked to increased walking and cycling. Conclusions The findings indicated a complex pattern of demographic and environmental factors influencing active travel, with environmental factors becoming increasingly important as commuting distances increased. These findings highlight the importance of considering the interactions of various factors to effectively promote active travel, especially for adolescents undertaking longer commutes. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov ID no: NCT03817047. Registered on: January 25, 2019 (retrospectively registered).

• Malnes, Lena; Berntsen, Sveinung; Kolle, Elin; Ivarsson, Andreas; Dyrstad, Sindre Mikal & Resaland, Geir Kåre [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). School-based physical activity in relation to active travel – a cluster randomized controlled trial among adolescents enrolled in the school in motion study in Norway. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 20(1). doi: 10.1186/s12966-023-01534-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Active travel and school settings are considered ideal for promoting physical activity. However, previous research suggests limited effect of school-based interventions on overall physical activity levels among adolescents. The relationship between physical activity in different domains remains inconclusive. In this study, we examined the effects of adding two weekly hours of school-based physical activity on active travel rates. Method We analyzed data from 1370 pupils in the 9th-grade participating in the cluster RCT; the School In Motion (ScIM) project. Intervention schools (n = 19) implemented 120 min of class-scheduled physical activity and physical education, in addition to the normal 2 hours of weekly physical education in the control schools (n = 9), for 9 months. Active travel was defined as pupils who reported walking or cycling to school, while motorized travel was defined as pupils who commuted by bus or car, during the spring/summer half of the year (April–September), or autumn/winter (October–February). The participants were categorized based on their travel mode from pretest to posttest as; maintained active or motorized travel (“No change”), changing to active travel (motorized-active), or changing to motorized travel (active-motorized). Multilevel logistic regression was used to analyze the intervention effect on travel mode. Results During the intervention period, most participants maintained their travel habits. In total, 91% of pupils maintained their travel mode to school. Only 6% of pupils switched to motorized travel and 3% switched to active travel, with small variations according to season and trip direction. The intervention did not seem to influence the likelihood of changing travel mode. The odds ratios for changing travel habits in spring/summer season were from active to motorized travel 1.19 [95%CI: 0.53–2.15] and changing from motorized to active travel 1.18 [0.30–2.62], compared to the “No change” group. These findings were consistent to and from school, and for the autumn/winter season. Conclusion The extra school-based physical activity does not seem to affect rates of active travel among adolescents in the ScIM project.

• Malnes, Lena Hansen; Haugen, Tommy; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Kolle, Elin & Berntsen, Sveinung (2022). Establishing the Convergent Validity of the Travel Habit Questions in the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Questionnaire by Quantifying Active Travel in Norwegian Adolescents. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. 4. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2022.761723. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Active travel (cycling or walking to school) can be a substantial part of adolescents' daily physical activity. Research on transport activities primarily relies on self-reported indices of travel mode and travel time. However, many researchers do not report the psychometric properties of their instruments. The Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire is a commonly used instrument, but the items in this questionnaire on travel habits have not yet been validated. The present study was conducted to investigate the convergent validity and agreement between the HBSC items and a travel diary on (1) transport mode to and from school and (2) travel time to school. Methods: The study sample consisted of 50 participants in the 9th grade (15 ± 0.3 years, 62% girls) from seven Norwegian schools. Outcome variables included transport mode and travel time derived from the HBSC items and a five-day travel diary. Convergent validity was assessed by evaluating Cohen's kappa for travel mode and the correlation coefficient (Spearman Rho) for travel time. Simple agreement calculations between the two measurement methods were also conducted. Results: The association between the HBSC questionnaire and the diary for travel mode to and from school was κ = 0.63 (P < 0.001) and κ = 0.77 (P < 0.001), respectively. The total agreement between the HBSC questionnaire and the diary for was 78%. However, the agreement was higher for walking (88%) and cycling (91%) than for motorized transport (67%). For travel time, the Spearman correlation coefficient was ρ = 0.60 (P < 0.001) between the HBSC questionnaire and the diary. The total agreement on travel time was 67%; however, active commuters (86%) seemed to more accurately estimated travel time than motorized commuters (55%). Conclusion: Although the overall agreement between the HBSC questionnaire and the diary for mode of transport was 78%, the HBSC questionnaire may underestimate the prevalence of motorized transport compared to walking and cycling.

• Lobben, Stian Ellingsen; Malnes, Lena; Berntsen, Sveinung; Tjelta, Leif Inge; Bere, Elling Tufte & Kristoffersen, Morten [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2018). Bicycle usage and cardiorespiratory fitness among inactive adults provided with electrically assisted bicycles. Acta Kinesiologiae Universitatis Tartuensis. ISSN 1406-9822. 24, p. 60–73. doi: 10.12697/akut.2018.24.05. Full text in Research Archive
• Berntsen, Sveinung; Malnes, Lena Hansen; Langåker, Aleksander & Bere, Elling (2017). Physical activity when riding an electric assisted bicycle. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 14(55). doi: 10.1186/s12966-017-0513-z. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: The objectives of the present study were to compare time spent cycling, exercise intensity, and time spent in moderate- (MPA) and vigorous intensity physical activity (VPA) when cycling on an E-bike and a conventional bicycle on two “cycling-to-work” routes with differences in topography, defined as a hilly and a flat route. Methods: Eight adults (23–54 years, two women) cycled outdoors on a conventional bicycle and an E-bike, on a flat (8.2 km) and a hilly (7.1 km) route, resulting in 32 journeys. Duration, elevation, and oxygen consumption were recorded using a portable oxygen analyser with GPS. A maximal cardiorespiratory fitness test was performed on a cycle ergometer. Resting metabolic rate was obtained by indirect calorimetry with a canopy hood. Results: The participants spent less time (median (IQR)) cycling on the E-bike compared with the conventional bicycle, on both the hilly (18.8 (4.9) vs. 26.3 (6.4) minutes) and the flat (20.0 (2.9) vs. 23.8 (1.8) minutes) routes. Lower exercise intensity was observed with the E-bike compared with the conventional bicycle, both on the hilly (50 (18) vs. 60 (22) % of maximal oxygen uptake) and the flat (52 (19) vs. 55 (12) % of maximal oxygen uptake) routes. In both cycling modes, most time was spent in MVPA (92–99%). However, fewer minutes were spent in MVPA with the E-bike than the conventional bicycle, for both the hilly (26% lower) and the flat (17% lower) routes. Cycling on the E-bike also resulted in 35 and 15% fewer minutes in vigorous intensity, respectively on the hilly and flat routes. Conclusion: Cycling on the E-bike resulted in lower trip duration and exercise intensity, compared with the conventional bicycle. However, most of the time was spent in MVPA. This suggests that changing the commuting mode from car to E-bike will significantly increase levels of physical activity while commuting. Keywords: Electrically assisted bicycle, Commuting, Intensity, Oxygen uptake, Pedalecs

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• Malnes, Lena; Berntsen, Sveinung; Kolle, Elin; Ivarsson, Andreas & Dyrstad, Sindre Mikal (2023). School-based physical activity in relation to active travel among adolescents. Full text in Research Archive
• Malnes, Lena (2022). Tre grunner til å velge aktiv transport. lokalavisen fedrelandsvennen. Full text in Research Archive
• Kubens, Valerie & Malnes, Lena (2021). Hvordan skal vi få flere barn og unge til å gå og sykle til skolen? [Journal]. Fedrelandsvennen. Full text in Research Archive
• Åvitsland, Andreas; Leibinger, Eva; Lerum, Øystein; Malnes, Lena; Solberg, Runar Barstad & Dyrstad, Sindre Mikal (2018). Sammenhengen mellom fysisk form og psykisk helse hos norske 13-14-åringer. Full text in Research Archive
• Malnes, Lena Hansen; Bere, Elling & Berntsen, Sveinung (2017). Et mer aktivt og grønnere miljø med elsykkel. Full text in Research Archive
• Malnes, Lena; Bere, Elling Tufte & Berntsen, Sveinung (2017). Et mer aktivt og grønnere miljø med elsykkel. Full text in Research Archive
• Malnes, Lena Hansen; Lobben, Stian Ellingsen; Bere, Elling; Tjelta, Leif Inge; Kristoffersen, Morten & Mildestvedt, Thomas [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2016). How access to an E-bike affects amount and patterns of bicycle use in inactive Norwegian adults: A pilot study. Full text in Research Archive
• Malnes, Lena (2025). Active travel among Norwegian adolscents: A study exploring factors of walking, cycling and motorized travel in a socio-ecological framwork. Universitetet i Agder. ISSN 9788284272740. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Introduction: The overarching aim of the present thesis was to investigate how various factors influence active travel among Norwegian adolescents using validated measures. This thesis is a part of the School in Motion (ScIM) project that developed an intervention designed to increase school-based physical activity by an additional two hours per week for 9th-grade students in Norwegian lower secondary schools. The objectives of this thesis were to (1) determine the validity of the Health Behaviour of School Aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire, (2) assess whether the ScIM intervention was associated with changes in adolescents' travel habits, and (3) explore how demographic and environmental factors affect these travel habits. Methods: The ScIM project was a cluster-randomized controlled trial with an intervention designed to increase school-based physical activity by 120 minutes per week. Travel habits were measured using the HBSC questionnaire, and its validity was assessed by comparing it to a five-day travel diary (n = 47) using Cohen’s kappa. We then examined the likelihood of changing travel habits in relation to the ScIM intervention using multilevel multinominal logistic regression (n = 1309). Finally, we analysed environmental and demographic factors using a decision tree analysis (n = 1409). Environmental features were derived from publicly available spatial data and calculated using geographical information systems. Results: The sample in the various analyses were similar to the main ScIM sample regarding travel habits. The HBSC questionnaire showed 78% agreement (k = 0.63 and 0.77) with the travel diaries. Most participants maintained active travel before and during the intervention. Additionally, the ScIM intervention did not seem to affect changes in travel behaviour. The decision tree analysis showed that factors varied depending on how far adolescents live from school. Also, gender, steep hills, and traffic exposure were linked to travel mode in both seasons. In winter, additional associations were observed with living close to peers, streetlights, and centrality. Conclusion: The results indicate that the HBSC questionnaire had a 78% agreement with travel diaries but may underestimate motorized transport. The findings further indicated that the ScIM intervention neither promoted nor compromised active travel among adolescents. Additionally, the findings highlight a complex pattern of interrelated factors associated with adolescents' travel habits, which appear to vary by distance to school, season, and gender.

• Kolle, Elin; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Säfvenbom, Reidar; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Grydeland, May & Ekelund, Ulf [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2019). Hovedrapport: School in motion. Utdanningsdirektoratet. Full text in Research Archive

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